33. Underlines the potential of smart grids, demand side management tools and energy storage solutions, both to facilitate the best possible integration of RES-E and to even out grid fluctuations; re-emphasises the urgent need for further research into, and deployment of, electricity storage including on the basis of cooperation with pumped-storage hydroelectric plants; notes in particular the need for further research into variable-speed storage options, which offer a more flexible system for controlling storage speeds and thus facilitate faster and better-matching connections; calls on the Member States to avoid imposing a double ta ...[+++]x burden on electricity storage operators;

Underlines the potential of smart grids, demand side management tools and energy storage solutions, both to facilitate the best possible integration of RES-E and to even out grid fluctuations; re-emphasises the urgent need for further research into, and deployment of, electricity storage including on the basis of cooperation with pumped-storage hydroelectric plants; notes in particular the need for further research into variable-speed storage options, which offer a more flexible system for controlling storage speeds and thus facilitate faster and better-matching connections; calls on the Member States to avoid imposing a double tax bu ...[+++]rden on electricity storage operators;

33. Recalls that more than 25 % of Europe's biodiversity is located in the Western Balkans region; also recalls that the many small and large rivers and lakes – the largest being the Morača river and Lake Skadar – host many rare species; calls on the Montenegrin authorities to reconsider plans to build large-scale hydropower plants and to mainly rely on energy provided by such sources; recalls the need to draft a national energy strategy, which takes into account the many different renewable energy sources, including hydropower on a small scale; recalls the need to also respect the natural heritage enshrined in the constitution, whic ...[+++]h refers to Montenegro as an ecological state and the fact that natural heritage and tourism are two important pillars of the Montenegrin economy; urges the Montenegrin authorities to always conduct environmental and social impact assessments prior to any decision on the construction of new plants, in line with EU and international standards such as the Aarhus and Espoo conventions; urges the Montenegrin authorities further to engage in extensive and transparent public consultation processes, involving relevant civil society organisations when it comes to the planning of future hydropower plant projects, and to make relevant decisions, expert opinions and other documentation public;

44. Urges the Commission to present, by 2012, concrete initiatives to promote the development of energy storage capacities (including multi-use gas/hydrogen facilities, smart reverse-flow electric vehicle batteries, hydropower pumping storage stations, decentralised biogas storage, high-temperature solar installations, compressed air storage facilities and other innovative technologies); suggests that the Commission assess further initiatives for energy storage in order to maximize the integration of renewable energy;

47. Urges the Commission to present, by 2012, concrete initiatives to promote the development of energy storage capacities (including multi-use gas/hydrogen facilities, smart reverse-flow electric vehicle batteries, hydropower pumping storage stations, decentralised biogas storage, high-temperature solar installations, compressed air storage facilities and other innovative technologies); suggests that the Commission assess further initiatives for energy storage in order to maximize the integration of renewable energy;

The Commission considers that there is a need to extend the prohibition to large scale hydroelectric stations to avoid any risk that BE might acquire existing large scale hydro stations especially in Scotland.